Posted
by
timothyon Sunday July 14, 2013 @02:10AM
from the pinball-bumpers-zoomed-way-out dept.

aarondubrow writes "Researchers reported results in Nature Communications on a new way of sculpting tailor-made fluid flows by placing tiny pillars in microfluidic channels [abstract; article is paywalled]. The method could allow clinicians to better separate white blood cells in a sample, increase mixing in industrial applications, and more quickly perform lab-on-a-chip-type operation. Using the Ranger and Stampede supercomputers, the researchers ran more than 1,000 simulations representing combinations of speeds, thicknesses, heights or offsets that produce unique flows. This library of transformations will help the broader community design and use sculpted fluid flows."

I wonder whether precise positioning of polar and non-polar posts could be used to encourage mixtures to separate into streams that are enriched in hydrophobic or hydrophilic components? Pour wine in and get one stream of watery juice and another stream of brandy out?